"The statute (for drunken driving charges) seems too broad," said Brighton lawyer John C. Secrest a day after the sentencing. "In Florida, you can get a drunk driving (charge) while riding a bike. ... It just seems like some kind of a reduction would've been appropriate."

Walton previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced Wednesday by Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Wendy Potts for a felony operating while intoxicated charge. The extra felony tag came along with the charge due to his history -- he had two prior convictions for the same offense, said Bloomfield Township police. Walton also got two years of probation.

Advertisement

Officials said they found Walton riding a lawnmower home from a local Rite Aid around 10 p.m. on March 22. After stopping him, police discovered that he was intoxicated, they said in initial reports.

Defense attorney Secrest said considering Walton's background -- he is a Navy veteran who served in Desert Storm and in Afghanistan -- he should've gotten consideration from the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office for a lesser sentence. He added that his client is also employed full time at an undisclosed company.

Bloomfield Township Capt. Scott McCanham said driving any type of motorized vehicle while intoxicated is illegal, according to the law -- especially in a place open to the public, he said.

"He drove a lawmower through one of the busiest intersections in Oakland County, at Woodward Avenue and Square Lake Road, which was extremely dangerous," said McCanham, "and he was not cutting his grass."

Prosecutor Jessica Cooper agrees that Walton's actions were "dangerous to everyone around him."

"We're talking about a guy who drove along Woodward at night, with no lights -- on a lawnmower!" said Cooper Thursday. "When he got out of the drug store, he urinated against the building."

Coupled with Walton's extensive history, Wednesday's sentence was relatively light, in her opinion, she said.

Walton was given probation in 2005 on a possession charge in Portsmouth, Va., but the probation was revoked and he was given jail time instead. In 2007, Walton served 90 days in a Chesapeake, Va., jail, tied to driving under the influence of alcohol. Three years later in Oakland County's 46th District Court, located in Southfield, the Bloomfield Township man spent 13 days in jail and was given two years of probation on another charge of operating under the influence.

"He could kill himself, or another driver," said Paul Walton. He said the offense is so serious, "the latest legislation wants to reduce the legal driving (blood-alcohol content) limit to .05," down from the current level of 0.08.

County prosecutor Walton said the sentences are handed down by the court, not the prosecutor's office.

Staff writer John Turk covers the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, police and general assignment. He can be reached at 248-745-4613.